We are not out of danger yet as two Malaga wildfires serve as September warning

September may have arrived, but Andalucia’s wildfire season is certainly not finished. Two fires requiring aerial firefighting support in Malaga province on Tuesday, September 8, are a timely reminder that dry vegetation and warm conditions can still create problems well into the month.

Cutar wildfire brings major INFOCA response

A wildfire was declared at Lomas de Cutar, near Cutar in the Axarquia, with Plan INFOCA quickly sending a substantial firefighting operation.

Resources included two light helicopters, one heavy helicopter and two aircraft carrying water from the ground. Twenty-three forest firefighters were also deployed, supported by a BRICA specialist brigade, two operations technicians, two environmental agents and a water tanker.

That is a sizeable response for a newly reported fire and shows just how quickly authorities are prepared to throw resources at a blaze before it can develop into something far more troublesome.

Mijas fire adds to the warning

A second wildfire, announced moments later, was also reported in Mijas, where one helicopter, one water-bombing aircraft and seven INFOCA firefighters were sent to tackle the flames.

Neither incident should be described as a major wildfire at this stage, but the resources being committed provide some reassurance that firefighters are taking no chances. Hopefully, both fires will be brought under control quickly, before either has the chance to grow.

September does not mean wildfire danger is over

INFOCA’s official wildfire monitoring system continues to track incidents across Andalucia, with September still included in the region’s high-risk fire season. Its latest campaign bulletin was published on September 4.

Weather conditions also are still worth watching. Malaga recorded temperatures above 30ºC on Tuesday afternoon, with low rainfall and relatively low humidity. Andalucia’s 2026 INFOCA operation has around 3,605 professionals involved in the campaign, backed by specialist helicopters, aircraft and hundreds of firefighting vehicles.

So, while the worst of summer may be behind us, anyone living in or visiting rural areas should not become complacent. In other words, September might feel like the end of summer,  but for wildfire crews, the job is far from over.